Cement-block-making machine.



H. & J. H. BBSSBR. CEMENT BLOGK MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1.7, 1907.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDREW n Dina-n-- n H. & J. H. BESSER. CEMENT BLOCK MAKING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 001'. '1, 1907.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l0 ll H. 66 J. 'H. BESSBR.

GEMENT BLOCK MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OU'L'l, 1907. 930,455. Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

3 SHEBTFBHEET 3.

HERMAN E'ssEaA N- JESSEH. BESSER, OF-ALPENA, MICHIGAN.

' cEMEn r- LQ K-MAKING MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application filed October 7, 1907. Serial No. 396,349.

To all whom it may concern: .g V

Be it known that we, HERMAN BESSER and Jesse H. BESSER, both citizens of the United States, and both residing at Alpena, in the county of Alena and State of Michigan, have invents certain new and usefullmprovements in Cement-Block-Making Machines; and we do hereby declare the follow- 1 ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to block-molding machines'and more particularly to that class of block-molding'machines known as facedown machines, well-known in the art. Many machines of this character are incapable of producing a hollow building block for the reason that the cores must be drawn while the block is in such position that the thin walls lie horizontally, and hence upon the withdrawal of the cores, no sup vort is left for such thin walls which will 00 lapse.

One object of our invention is to provide a machine wherein the cores are withdrawn vertically; after which the machine .is re.- leased from the block, the latter being discharged 'm such position that the thin walls of the block are retained in vertical position,

and hence are allowed no chance to collapse.

Another object is the provision of a single lever-operated means for inserting or with. drawing the cores simultaneously.

A further object s the provision of a pivotally-supported latch for releasably retaining the end plates of the mold in closed position.

Another object is the provision of a catch forretaining the latch in locked vposition.

A still further object is the provision of means for retaining the cores in their withdrawnor outer position, ,such means also themg connected to the latch, whereby the release of the side plates is accompanied by' the locking of the cores in raisedrposition.

A furtherobject is the provision of means for counterbalancing the weight of the cores and mold-box. i

Another object is theprovision of a mold wherein the block, when completed, is moved forward as the .mold is released therefrom.

Another object .is the provision of means for supporting the iblo'ckon one face or plate ofthe mold when the latter is in its open position.

dischargmg tically, a wetter mixture can A further object is the provision of a bloc-l; machine wherein the cores and molds swing together from the receiving position to the position; wherein the mold-boX is retainedin closed position until the cores are withdrawn vertically and the latch released to discharge the block. I

In many machines, the cores are withdrawn, after which the mold-box is partially rotated to 1 its discharge position thus affo'rding anop ortunity forthe' unsupported walls of the b ock to collapse, but in our invention the block isdischarged in the same upright position as it occupies when the cores are withdrawn.

In withdrawing the .cores horizon-tally, the tender walls of the blocks are not suflicicntly set to sup, ,ort their own weight nd ns By moving the cores verbe used than if t-hecores were removed horizontally, and a wetter miiture reflects an economy in time and labor, as well as providing a stronger quently co lapse.

better article.

Another object of our invention is the provision of means for gulding the cores n their movement nto and out of the mold-box.

A further object is the provision of a nearly automatic block machme operated by a single lever which not only actuates the cores, but rotates the mold box, the use .of springs being obviated.

Our invention further consists certain other novel features and combinations such as will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a .perspective'view showing the mold-box in closedposit on to receive the material; Fig.

. 2 is a similar viewshowing themold-boxpartially swungover toward its discharging position; Fig. 3 isa similar view showing the mold-box on its side and indicating thenompletion ofth'e movement of Fig. 2.; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of the mold-boXwhen partiallynpen in the operation of actually discharging the article from the mold Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the moldffully open and the article discharged; and Fig. 6 is a top-plan view of the closed mold.

In the embodiment of our invention herein-illustrated, (A) indicates a suitable s1 v port or stand on which the operative e e- Inentsof the device are placed. The stand comprises side and end bars (1) and (2) respectively, the end bars supporting journal boxes (3), to receive thetrunnions (4) projecting laterally from brackets (5) (5) lo- 5 cated at op osite ends of the base or lower leaf (6) of t e mold-box. This lower leaf is thus suspended by means of the brackets and trunnions and is received between the side and end bars of the frame, whereby the center of gravitv of the machine is brought as low as possib e to provide a firm apparatus which is not top-heavy. The bottom leaf or base (6) also serves as a support for the face-plate (not shown), any st le of which can be placed on the bottom eaf to im art various effects to the blocks or other mo lded articles manufactured by the machine. A greater advantage, however, res ides in the fact that in this machine the block is made face-downward, thus enabling the operator to firmly tamp the face in the mold and unite the body-portion of the block thereto. Also it permits the o erator to provide a block having a facing of any color, design, quality of material and thickness, as the facing material is first placed in the mold and the material forming the body-portion of the block added afterward. By suspending the face-supporting leaf beneath the trunnions or bearings, the height of the ma chine is "reduced, the apparatus reduced to the smallest possible compass, and the moldbox is low enoughto permit the operator to tamp in the concrete with perfect ease.

Secured to the rear longitudinal edge of the face-supporting leaf (6) and rigid therewith is a plate (7) which we will call the topplate. This plate, as shown, is provided with two apertures (8) (8) ada ted to re- 40 ceive the cores (9) (9), but it is o vious that the plate may be provided with one aperture or more than two apertures for a corresponding number of cores, if desired.

As one means for supporting and actuating the cores, we provide the following apparatus: Secured near the opposite ends of the outer face of this top-plate are the bridges (10) (10) between and connecting which extends'a brace (l 1) having a perforation intermediate its ends for a purpose hereinafter de scribed. Rods (13) (13) extend vertically from the outer face of the plate (7) to the bridges and serve as guides for a bar (14) slidingly mounted thereon, the bar (14) extending parallel with the brace (11) and past the bridges (10) (10). Cores (9) (9) are removably secured in any suitable manner at their outer ends to the bar (14) intermediate w its ends, the cores preferably being slightly tapered, the free ends (15) (15) of the cores when in the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5, lying in the apertures (8) (8) of the top-plate (7). A stud (9) carried by the sliding bar (14) intermediate its ends is loosely received 65 in the perforation in the brace (11), whereby to guide the cores and revent lateral movement or a binding of t 1e cores in the apertures. A shaft (16) lying parallel with the bar (14) is conveniently journalcd to the forward legs of the bridges near their lower ends, the ends of the shaft projecting beyond the bridges at each end of the to J-Plfttfi (7). Secured to the left-hand end of t 1e shaft (in the drawings) is an arm (17) connected by a link (18) to one end of the bar 14) which may be suitably u )turned for this purpose, the link being pivotally connected to the arm and to the bar. At the opposite end of the shaft, a lever (19) is keyed intermediate its ends, the rear end of the lever being connected to the adjacent end of the bar (14) by means of a similar link (18). Thus it is seen that a movement of the lever in one direction or the other will move the cores simultaneously in or out relative to the top-plate (7). To that longitudinal side opposite the bottom plate (7) is hinge-secured a bottom-plate (20) likewise providedv with a ertures (21) (21) which, when the bottom p ate is thrown up in the position shown in Fig. 1, are in alinement with the apertures (8) (8) of the top-plate, the top and bottom plates then lying parallel and spaced apart by the width of the facesupporting leaf (6). A pallet (22) is received on the bottom plate, the pallet being provided with apertures (23) (23) registering with the apertures (21) (21) of the bottom plate. To the opposite ends of the bottomplate are hinged the end-doors (24) (24), the inner faces of which may be arranged with any suitable surface desired to be impressed on the ends of the molded article. These doors are removable also in order to permit the substitution of doors having variousdesigns on their inner faces.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1 that when the mold is in position to receive the material the end doors extend at right angles to the top and bottom plates and vertically relative to the face-supporting base (6), the free ends of the doors abutting the inner face of the top plate (7) at its ends. In order to prevent the doors from springing outward under the tamping pressure as well as affording a gage whereby to quickly determine the proper position to which to swing the doors, we provide the to plate (7) at or near its ends with the inwardly-projecting stops (25) (25) between which and the lugs (26) (26) spaced inward therefrom on the inner face of the top plate, the free ends of the doors are received and snugly held.

As one means for retaining the bottom plate and the end doors in upri ht position relative to the suspended baselate (6), we may provide a clamp which in the present instance consists of a U-shaped member (27) loosely journaled on the shaft (16) and projecting from the arms of such U-shaped member, are the angular fingers (28) (28), the inare more firmly united. In a turned free ends of which ,are adaipted to take behind the ribs (29) (29) carried y the outer faces of the end doors near their free ends, the upper ends of the ribs being slightly rounded to conform to the arc of movement of the fingers. The U-shaped body is provided with a handle (30). to 'permit'the clamp to engage or release the end doors, and in order to prevent the accidental release of the doors, we may provide a latch (31) pivoted on the shaft (16) and engaging the U-sh-aped body when the fingers are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but such latch is not essential and may be dispensed with.

The operation'of our machine is as follows: Assuming that the mold is in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the bottom plate and end doors in upright position, the doors. en-

gaged by the clamp and the cores withdrawn. We first insert a suitable face-plate, not.

shown, and then a pallet board, as (22), after which any suitable facing is introduced into the mold and tamped or not. Preferably, we prefer to introduce the facinand then a portion of the material constituting the body portion of the block before tamping, as in that manner, the body-portion and facing face-down machine, a block having a facing of any color, thickness and richness or quality differing from the bodyortion may be easily and quickly made, which is not possible with other machines. The facing is generally just dry enough so as not to adhere to the face plate. Enough of the bodyportion1 of the molded article is placed on top of the facing so that when the first stage of 'tamping is completed, the material in the mold will be about level with the lower sides of the cores. The operator then forces the lever toward the rear of the machine, thereby moving the cores into the mold through apertures (8) (8), the free ends of the core's passing through apertures (23) in the allet board and closing apertures (21) in the ottom plate. The-materialfor the body portion is of a wetness so that it will nearly quake. This material is now fed into the mold as rapidly as possible and thoroughly tamped down around and over the cores until he mold is filled, after which the surplus is stroked ofi., It now becomes necessary to rotate the mold a quarter of a turn, which is the first step in discharging the molded article. To efi'ect this, the operator grasps the lever and pulls it forwardly. Ordinarily th's movement would only withdraw the coresfrom the mold without turning the latter, but by reason of the frictional contact and adhesion of the mate rial in the mold withthe cores, the weight of the cores, and the fact that the of the mold is above the pivota point thereof (the trunnions) (4), the mold will be reversed without withdrawing the cores. however, to render this movement as easy as 1 a weight (32) toward the front of the weight of the cores 7 bottom plate ,topplate moves with the basereater weight In order, away to season,

1 possible, and to prevent any liability of Startthe mold, we prefer to attach to the base-plate (6) such weight being carried on a rod (33) depending from the base-plate and extending forwardly the machine. This weight counterbalances the weight of the cores and permits the mold) to be turned easing the cores in 'ily and-gently and with the use of but slight force. The mold now occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, the bottom plate (20) being horizontal and supporting the molded article. The operator continues to press down on the lever, even after the bottom plate has been brought to rest on the frame (A) of the machine to withdraw the cores which are raised out of the mold, as shown in Fig. 3, and when the cores have reac ed. or nearly reached their outward limit of movement, the latcl1'(3 1) is released and the clamp (27 thrown back to release the end doors, which, however, do not immediately fall open, because of the stops (25).

, Obviously, if some means was not provided to retain the cores in their raised or withdrawn position, they would at once return into the mold by gravity, and as one such means, we have provided the U-shaped member (27) with legs or props (34) project ing at such an angle from the U-shaped member '(27) as to be brought beneath the supporting-bar (14) when the clamp (27) (28) is thrown back to release the end doors. Thus is supported by the legsorprops when the cores are with-drawn and the mold occupies the position shown in Fig. 3. All that is now necessary is to discharge the block, to accomplish which, the operator pulls upward on the lever as if to force the cores back into the mold. The pro s prevent such movement of the cores an as-a result, the base-leaf is returned to its original horizontal position, and in so moving, it forces the horizontally-located (20) forward from the frame of the machine toward the o erator. The eaf, of course,

and as it moves rearwardly the sto s (25) and lugs-(26) are released from the en doors perlatter to fall outwardly away mitting the from the ends of the block, which latter rests upon the pallet-board (22), which in turn is supported on the bottom plate (20). As the bottom plate is forced forward to discharge the block, it becomes necessary to afford a support therefor, to which end we may provide the arms (35) projecting forwardly from the frame and being slightly curved to permit the bottom plate to be projected forwardly in a 1perfectly horizontalv plane at all times, the ri s (36) (36) of the bottom plate traveling on the stationary arms. The block may be removed on its pallet board and set after which the operator brings the two end doors back into a vertical position relative to the bottom plate and then swings the bottom plate into its original position, shown in Fig. l, throwing the clam forward to cause the inturned fingers (28) to engage the ribs (29) of the doors and locking the clamp in such position by means of the latch (31), whereuponthe above described operation is repeated.

It will be observed-that the cores and the mold swing together and that the single lever controls the movements of both the mold andthe cores. locked position throughout the entire operation of tamping in the material and swinging the mold to its discharge position. The cores 'are simultaneously withdrawn vertically and not horizontally, thus reventing the development of cracks in the b ock or the possibility of walls caving in, and this advantage is aided by withdrawing the cores beforethe box is unlocked by a release of the clamp (27) (28). If the box were unlocked prior to withdrawing the cores, it would become unstable and the block would be injured'during the removal of the cores. One continuous pull on the lever rotates the machine a quarter of a turn to cause the block to be supported on the bottom plate and withdraws the cores. Thereafter an upward push on the leverreturns a portion of the mold to its original filling position and discharges the block on the remaining portion of the mold. Many other machines withdraw the cores horizontally and then partly open as the mold is tilted to discharge position and before it reaches discharge position. The cores are controlled by a lever and form a part of themachine and the machine will manufacture more blocks in a given period of time because a wetter mix can be used where the cores are withdrawn vertically than where they are withdrawn horizontally.

It will also turn out a cheaper block, since water costs less than cement and a stronger block, since a Wet mix is stronger than a drymix block, nor will it absorb water, being,

practically impervious to moisture. In machines which withdraw the cores horizontally a single large core can not be used the upper wall is left unsupported and will cave in, but our machine admits of the use of a' single large core.

We are not aware of any machine in which the cores are mechanically withdrawn vertically, although there are machines wherein the cores are withdrawn'vertically by hand, but this occasions much loss of time, as the cores must be carefully withdrawn, and hence their output is much smaller. It is also noteworthy that in this machine, We do not use gears or springs which are liable to become clogged and get out of order.

It is evident that many changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the The mold-box is retained in because several parts described from the spirit and scope and hence We do not wish to the exact construction herein set forth.

Having thus fully disclosed our invention, what we claim as new is 1. A molding machine comprising a mold box pivotally mounted at points substantially in alinement with its horizontal axis, a core and a single lever for moving the core into the mold box, partially rotating the box, withdrawing the core and then returning a portion of the box to normal position.

2. A pivotally supported face down ma chine comprising a base leaf, a top plate rigidly secured to one side thereof and normally lying in an approximately vertical plane, a bottom plate hinged to the opposite side of the leaf, end doors for closing the spaces between the ends of the plates, means for releasably retaining the mold in closed position, a pallet board removably placed against the inner face of the bottom plate, the top plate and pallet board provided with regis tering openings, a core slidingly mounted. exteriorly of the top plate and in alinement with the openings, the core normally lying in an approximately horizontal plane, and a lever for moving the core horizontally into the mold through the opening in the top )late and for partially rotating the mold to bring the core into vertical position and to shift the block onto the bottom-plate, the lever adapted to withdraw the core vertically from the mold after the top plate has been brought into an approximately horizontal )osition and before the means for retaining the mold in closed position is released.

3. A block molding machine comprising a pivotally supported bottom, a side stationary relative to and moving with the bottom, the opposite side hinged to the bottom, end doors hinged to one of the sides, ribs carried by and located near the free ends of the end doors, and fingers pivotally mounted on that side moving with the bottom, the free ends of the fingers adapted to take over the ribs to clamp the free ends of the doors tightly against such last mentioned side.

4. A block-making machine comprising a pivotally-supported mold box, the mold box consisting of a base-leaf, an apertured top plate rigid therewith, a bottom plate hinged to the base-leaf, and end doors hinged to the bottom plate, means for releasably retaining the end doors and bottom plate in closed position, bridges mounted on the top plate, rods extending between the bridges and top plate respectively, a bar slidingly mounted on the rods, corescarried by the bar, a perforated brace connecting the bridges, a guide-pin carried by the bar and received in the perforation in the base, a rod suitably journaled relative to the top-plate, a lever secured intermediate its ends to the rod at one end, an arm secured to the o posite end of the rod, and links connecting tlie arm and the lever to the respective ends of the bars for inserting or withdrawing the cores simultaneously through the apertures in the top plate. v

5. A block machine comprising a pivotally-supported mold box, one side of which is apertured, guides mounted on the apertured side of the box, a bar slidably mounted on the guides, cores secured to the bar and movable into and out of the box through the apertured side, a shaft suitably journaled relative to the apertured side, a lever secured intermediate its ends to one end of the shaft, an arm secured to the opposite end of the shaft, and links connecting the arm and the lever to the sliding bar.

6. A block machine comprising a pivot ally-supported mold box, one side of which is apertured, guides mounted on the apertured side of the box, a bar slidably mounted on the guides, a core secured to the bar and movable into and out of the boxthrough the apertured side, a perforated brace carried by the guides, a pin carried by the bar and slidingly received in the perforation in the brace, and a lever linked to the bar for inserting and withdrawing the core relative to the box.

7. A block machine comprising a moldbox, a core carried by the mold-box, means on the mold box for supporting the core, a lever pivotally connected to the mold box, a

link connecting the lever and the core sup-.

porting means, for inserting and withdrawing the core relative to the mold-box, a per forated brace, and a pin carried by the core and received in the perforation in the brace.

8. A block machine comprising a pivotally-supported knock down mold box, one side of which is apertured, a suitably supported sliding bar, a core carried by the bar and removably receivable in the mold box, a lever for inserting and withdrawing the core relative to the mold box, means for releasably locking the mold-box in closed position, and means carried by the locking means for retaining the core in its withdrawn position simultaneously with the'release of themold by the lockingmeans.

9. A block machine comprising a pivotally-mounted knock down mold, a core carried by the mold, and movable into and out of the mold, a lever, a link connecting the lever and core for actuating the core and for partially rotating the mold, a clamping means for locking the mold in closed posi tion, and a leg or rop carried by the clamping means and a apted to support the core in its withdrawn position when the clamping means is moved to release the mold.

10. A block machine comprising a pivotally-supported base leaf, a top plate carried thereby, a bottom plate hinged to the baseleaf, and doors hinged to the bottom plate, clampin fingers pivotally mounted on one of the plates, suitably-located ribs engaged by the clamping fingers to retain the bottom plate and end doors in closed position, a core carried by the top plate and movable into and out of the mold, means for supporting the core, means for actuating the core and for partially rotating the mold, and a leg connected with the clamping fingers and adapted to support the core in its withdrawn position subsequent to the partial rotation of the mold, the withdrawal of the core and the release of the clamping fingers.

11. A block machine compr1sing a pivotally-supported knock-down mold box, means for releasably locking the box in closed position, acore slidably mounted on the box and movable into and out of the box, and a lever pivotally secured to the box and connected to the core, a continued pull on which will partially rotate the box and subsequently withdraw the core therefrom prior to the release of the locking means.

12. A block making machine comprising a pivotally sup consisting of a ase leaf, an apertured top plate rigid relative thereto, a hinged bottom plate and end doors hin ed to the bottom plate, means for releasab y locking the end doors and bottom plate in closed position, bridges carried by the top plate, cores mounted on the top plate in alinement with the apertures therein, a guide for the cores and a lever connected with the cores, for moving them into and out of the mold and for swinging the mold from charging to discharging position and back.

13. The combination in a block machine with a mold box consisting of a base plate, a core supporting plate secured thereto, a front platehinged to the base plate and end doors inged to the front plate, of a pair of inturned fingers connected together and pivotally mounted relative to the core sup orting plate and ribs on the free ends of t e end doors, the ends of the fingers taking behind the ribs to draw the end doors, toward the core supporting plate.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN BESSER. JESSE H. BESSER. Witnesses:

BYRON H. OLDS, V. C. RUTLEDGE.

orted mold box, the box- 

